A walk in the forest – level 2

You are here

A walk in the forest – level 2

Grace is walking her dog in the forest when something unusual happens.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first and then read the story. If you find it too easy, try the next level. If it's too difficult, try the lower level. After reading, do the exercises to check your understanding.

25

Preparation

Tuesday

Going through the forest is my favourite part of the walk. Benji loves it too. There are rabbits to run after and old leaves to smell. Benji’s my dog, by the way, and I’m Grace. I live on a farm with my parents and take Benji for a walk most days after school.

While Benji runs ahead, I stop and take a photo of a butterfly. A new Facebook photo? Maybe, but my friends already call me 'Nature Girl', so perhaps not. Suddenly, I hear Benji’s bark. I look up and see Benji jumping and running round a boy. The boy’s about my age and looks worried. 'Benji, stop! Come here!' I call and reach into my pocket for his ball. I’m about to apologise to the boy, but he’s gone, disappeared between the trees.

Wednesday

I’m out with Benji again. It’s cold and rainy today, so we’re going fast. As I’m coming through the forest, it starts raining hard, so I run. Suddenly, I’m slipping and falling and, before I know it, I’m lying on my back. Ouch! That hurt.
Then there’s someone there and a voice says,
'Are you all right? That was a bad fall.' I look up and see the boy from yesterday.
'I’m OK, I think,' I say slowly and the boy helps me up. Benji arrives and the boy pats his head.
'I haven’t seen you at school. Do you live near here?' I ask.
'No, I’m from Manchester,' he says. 'Listen! I have to go. Are you OK to walk home? Do you need help?'
'No, I’m fine. Thanks!' I say, as the boy walks away.
'Hey, I’m Grace. What’s your name?' I call, but he’s already gone.

Back home, Mum’s watching the news.
'Hi Grace. Have you heard about this boy, Mark?' she asks.
'No, what boy?' I say.
'A boy from Manchester. He’s run away from home. Look! This is his dad.'
There’s a man on TV sitting next to a policeman. He’s crying and looks as if he hasn’t slept for days. Then they show a photo of the missing boy. I know him. It’s the boy from the forest. He’s Mark. Should I say something? Should I tell Mum?
'Poor man,' says Mum. 'I just hope they find his son soon.'

No, I mustn’t say anything. If I tell Mum, the police will come and find Mark. What if he’s run away for a good reason? I have to talk to him first.

Thursday

I’ve looked everywhere but I can’t find Mark. If I’m not home soon, my parents will worry. So I try shouting.
'Mark, where are you?'
Nothing, no answer.
'Mark,' I shout again, 'I know about you.'
After a moment, I hear his voice.
'What do you know? How do you know my name?' I turn and there he is.
'Your dad was on TV last night. The police are looking for you.'
He looks shocked and asks, 'Did you say anything? Have you told them?'
'No,' I say. 'I wanted to talk to you first. What’s happened? Why have you run away?'
He looks at the ground.
'I had an argument with my dad. A bad one.'
'What about?' I ask. Mark points to a fallen tree and we sit down.
'My mum died four years ago. It was very hard for me and for Dad. He was sad for a long time, but then he met someone new. Mel’s her name.'
'Oh, and don’t you like her?' I ask.
'No, not much. She’s not a bad person, but we don’t really connect. She wants my dad for herself and isn’t interested in me. I don’t think she wants me around.'
'But, what about your dad? Have you talked to him?'
'He keeps telling me to make an effort with her, but I can’t. The night I ran away, he came to my room and said that we’re all moving to London. Mel’s from London, you see. And then he told me that he and Mel want to get married and have a baby. We both got angry and I told him I’m not moving to London. I took my tent and left in the middle of the night.'
'But what will you do? You can’t live in the forest', I tell him.
'I know, but my grandad and my friends are in Manchester. I don’t want to move to London.'
'You might like London,' I say.
'That’s what my dad says too.'
I feel sorry for Mark, but I think of his dad crying on TV and feel sorry for him too.
'What are you going to do?' I ask.
'I don’t know. I need time to think.'

Friday

Mark’s waiting for me in the forest. I’ve brought him a sandwich. I’ve also got some news.
'Mark, Mum says the police came to the farm this morning. They’re going to search the forest tomorrow.'
Mark shakes his head, 'I didn’t want this. My dad on TV and the police and everything. I don’t know what to do.'
'I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you live with your grandad in Manchester? Let your dad and Mel move to London and visit them in the holidays.'
Mark doesn’t answer at first, then he looks at me and smiles.
'Can I use your phone?' he asks. 'I need to call my dad.'

Discussion

Comments

I liked the story because in the beginning it was a little bit supernatural when the boy came and disappeared from nowhere. It was Strange and mysterious and i really liked that. Finally at the end i think that Grace's idea was a good compromise to Mark's problem.

Yes, both Grace Mark did a right thing. She walked up to Mark and put a priority on talking with him; Mark honestly talked with Grace even though she was a stranger to him. They could solve the problem because they actually met and listened to each other.

The story was actually quite good, and first I had thought that this was a thriller-based story XD. I wonder if this story has a continuation to it though. I am kind of curious of what would happen to Grace and Mark.

It is a very good story, I have really liked. It just makes me want read more of it. I think that Grace did the best thing anyone in her place can do. However, I think that Mark shouldn't have left his dad, he could have discussed with him and probably they would have found a solution.

Yes grace did the right thing but the mark did'nt did anything good it's not good to leave your parents . . u have to repesct their feelings . his father was alone and he needed someone after the death of mark's mother . he should go with his father for once . . although the story was interesting and may be the mark was also right . . but according to my opinion he was wrong . .

I like this story so much.It makes me want to read more.This is a very interesting story.Firstly I read,It gives me goosebump and want to know who is that boy.After knowing the story of the boy,I was so sad for him.I also think Grace made a great decision, not telling her mom about the forest boy and talk directly to him first.Moreover she gave the solution of boy's problem.I was so glad Mark listen to Grace's advice and words.Finally he dicided to make a call to his father.It's a happy ending.I really want to read more about friendship of Grace and Mark, how Mark and his dad solve their family problem.It'll be great there's another part of"A Walk In The Forest".

Hey guys
Its me Denise.
Today I want to tell you about the text named “A walk in the Forest”. There are two main persons, Grace, Mark and a dog named Benji. Grace takes everyday after school with her dog Benji a walk in the forest. The boy was run away from home and the police searched for him. Grace talked a lot with him about his dad,and about that his dad want to live in London with his new Girlfriend. but he don’t want to go home anymore. She says that he should live with his grandpa in Mancherster. He liked the idea and called his dad.
I like the text, because Grace stands for Mark and talked a lot with him. I find it very emotional that she take care of Mark.
See you, Denise!

Dear Community,
I read th text because the title really catched me . The Story was boring at the beginning but it changed a lot when you find out that he runs away from home. I think it is a very emotional Story.
Do you think the same ?
When not please tell me your opinion.
Bye

Dear Community,
I think the text is great! It's very nice that Grace helped Marc. It's interresting to read and the story could be real. Grace did the right thing because she talked to Marc before she told her mum. She helped Marc to find a way to stay in Manchester and she didn't tell the police that she knew that Marc was in the forest! I think it's good that Marc phoned his dad. I like the story because it's interresting and I would like to read more about it! Hope you like my feedback and I am looking forward hearing from you!
xoxo Sophly

Hi there,
I just finished reading this text and I have to say that it´s not my favourite form of stories but it´s not so bad.I prefer novels or something like that. I understand that Mark doesn´t want to move away from Manchester because he didn´t want to leave his friends and his grandad, but I think before Mark had to ran away, he should have talked to his father about this. This was very careless from Mark, because his father was naturally very anxious about his son. At least he should have called his father and told him that he was doing well. I think Grace did the right thing, I would do the same. It was a very good idea from her that Mark could stay by her grandad.

What would you do in this situation? Do you think it´s the right way to ran away?

I like this text very much, because it's very interesting.
It's very nice that Grace helps Mark to find a way that he could stay in Manchster.
I think, Mark did the right. He needs time to think about that.
It's a very cool story.

Dear Community,
Today I am going to tell you something about a little story about a girl and a boy.And by the way my name is Ella and i am 14 years old. I read this text for my english Reading Portfolio and i must say it is not my type of story but it is okay. The Story is about a young girl names Grace. She lives on a farm with her parents and Grace takes Benji (her dog) for a walk most days after school. but one day she met a boyin her age in the forrest. Back home, her Mum was watching the News and they show a photo of a missing boy. Grace knew him , it was the boy from the forrest. But now i will not reveal the end of this story. This text was written by Robin Newton.

What do you think about the situation ?
Please give me a short Feedback.

I liked the story but I found it quite short. I would like a longer story and there is no end. That's too bad because the story is very good.

I think Grace did the right thng because she prefered to talk to Marc before telling her mother.

For me, if I were Grace I would do the same thing because if I told my mother she would immediately call the police. So I first would ask Marc to know what he would like to do. But if he didn't want to do anything I would warn my mother.